ABSTRACT
Stranger sexual homicide (SSH) is defined by whether the victim would have recognized her assailant the day before the killing. SSH is very rare and many criminal justice professionals may only encounter a few, if any, stranger sexual killers (SSKs) during their careers. Some men intentionally search for and target female strangers to sexually assault and kill, others impulsively attack them during other routine activities. In relation to age, ethnicity, and employment, SSH appears typical, compared to other similar crimes. Most SSKs have previous convictions. SSH mostly occurs late at night or the early hours of the weekend, and in various locations relatively close to the murderer’s home. SSH involves a range of sexual and violent actions typical of other sexual homicides, and reflects sexual and violent themes.
